Brian Jacques, best-known as the author of the Redwall series of books, died on 7 February this year, aged 71. We were in the middle of a long downtime, so we'll pay tribute to him now, later than we would like, but just as sadly and fondly, because without him, we as a community would not be here.

Some of us have not even read the Redwall books, but they were the source of inspiration for FAF, which grew out of the wider Redwall Online Community, and which survives now with few traces of that which inspired it, but nevertheless as a circle of friends in a less trivial sense than usual for online communities. Perhaps also Brian's gift for writing has helped a community more thoughtful and earnest to grow around his work than a lesser author would have inspired.

It is my hope that those of us who have become friends through FAF will remain friends for a long time yet. And if that proves so, it will be thanks to Brian, and so we will remember him.